L5R - Unity - Chapter 1 - Winter Solstice

[Rain Yupa]

It had been several weeks of sailing since the four of you had left the Aerie in the Colonies, on a Crane vessel due to arrive in Kyuden Doji, in mainland Rokugan. For all of you, this would either be your first time in the true Empire of Rokugan in your lives, or simply your first time in memory. Hopefully, the instructions your Clan Champion has given you still fill your thoughts, especially since you will be landing and disembarking shortly.

Quote:

"Remember, you four have a mission, a very specific mission, which you must keep in mind at all times," Himura Haruka would say, pacing before all of you, seemingly somewhat agitated. "It will be tempting to lose yourself in the ebb and flow of new experiences, and perhaps in any personal motivations, like finding a spouse." She would pause, locking eyes with Naohiko for just a moment, before continuing.

"It is important that you network. Kaichiyo, you will be running this Clan one day, and it is important that you make allies. History has shown us time and again how willing a Great Clan is to crush a Minor one into the dirt, just because they can. And make no allusions about it - we are still weak. You can not make enemies while at court. We can not afford to. Assume that any person there, even if they are young and inexperienced and by the kami, completely daft and hopeless, will one day be in a position of power. You have everything to gain by making as many allies as you can. Everything else is secondary to this."

Haruka would pause her pacing before her daughter, and the others gathered with her. "Protect each other. I doubt you will befriend every one you meet there, but when it boils down to it, you can, and must, depend on one another and no one else. You will keep one another safe. While you can make a potentially powerful ally there, they will have their own ulterior motives, and playing nice with a Minor Clan will not be high on their priority list."

Seeming to realize that this might be a bit of a downer, Haruka would give you that forced, awkward smile she usually gives. "I'll be leaving for the Aerie in the morning, since I have been invited to the Imperial Winter Court again this year. I'll be taking Masaru and Natsuki with me. You will leave a week after I, since the next ship departing for Kyuden Doji will be leaving on that day. A month to travel, a month there, and a month back - the winter courts are understanding to colonial guest and discharge them early so we can begin our spring in time. I'll be back home two weeks after you, if everything goes according to plan."

This time, the smile was a sincere one. "I don't doubt you know what's at stake, which is why I know all of you will make me proud."

The ramp from the dock would thud heavily against the hull of the ship, allowing for passengers to begin disembarking from the vessel, some more grateful than others. Before you likes the city of Kyuden Doji, with the castle itself a bit of a ways ahead. All the roofs are covered in the white powdery substance you were assured of as 'snow' (which you saw fall on the way here). You can't see the roads, but the snow has been thoroughly trampled enough over them to show you the way.

And by the kami, was it cold!  

[Raganui Minamoto]

A large man shifted, frowning at the snow, as he stood on the deck. Despite his best efforts, which included hugging his fuzzy Spitz dog named Setsuna close in his clothes, he was shivering. Of course, considering his occupation of being a smith, he was used to a much warmer environment.

Running his free hand through his hair to brush it out of his good eye, he shifted his pack once again and started off, though made sure to be near those he came with. No need to have 'hime-sama' run off on another adventure without him. His obi had his katana and wakizashi sheathed in polished, but plain magnolia wood, with the handle wrappings being sea green. His naginata was tied to his back with a sturdy cord, made of well worn shiro kashi (evergreen oak) wood, making it have a nice white color, with the same wood acting as the blade's saya. The end cap was polished but plain iron.

As for the man himself, his clothes were sturdy and simple, mostly white with some sea green patterns here and there and the Kraken mon on the left breast. His hair was slightly long, tied back into a short tail aside from his bangs which fell over his eyes (though more so the left one, mostly hiding it from view). His right eye was a dark hazel color. He stood just over six foot, was broad of shoulder, and tanned from days in a forge. Large hands and toned muscles moved with little flair from someone who was a bit more on the 'practical' side of things. The only thing ruining his look of a warrior was the previously mentioned dog, who's head was sticking out of Gendo's kimono top.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

"Chill Winter's embrace
Spirits on the wind rejoice;
Taste of something new~"

Up in the riggings the honey-sweet voice sang, arms outstretched to catch the chill and tongue outstretched to catch the snow where it was pure. Even if the trip had started out relatively warm, she knew enough to change into her Sturdy Clothing, the iconic bushi's hakama-and-gi sporting Kraken colors and insignia, by the time the wind started to get a bite to it, and so even in the chill sail-filled air she wasn't too terribly cold. At least, not more than the stellar view and fascinating new experiences made worth the discomfort. To think. Snow. Like, genuine crystallized water. There was a taste of purity to it, and the designs were simply divine in artistic complexity and beauty. The likes no mortal artisan could truly reproduce. Not to mention the sight of the castle. Kyuden Himura was a more sprawling, flat place, built to weather the rain and storms that pour upon her for most of the year. But Kyuden Doji was... big... breathtakingly so. And the snow framed the buildings with a graceful shimmer that made them look almost out of this world.

The snap of a draw rope rang out into the frozen air, ominously portentous that the Kraken party's intrepid princess had no intention of climbing all the way back down. No, with a melodious battle cry of "Wheee!" ringing out into the morning air, Himura Kaichiyo disembarked upon swinging rope, nearly bowling over her commiserating smith before a deft twist as she released the rope had her soaring past the miserable man and landing in a dramatic crouch halfway down the landing platform. With a sly grin she completed the fun by standing with showmanship grace and waving her arm behind her in a 'come hither' motion, "C'mon, slowpokes! The courts wait for no one~"


[Void spent for +1k1, to harness the cosmic energies of Dramatic Effect]
[Athletics/Agility 5k3 to swing from the sails and land without knocking any unfortunate disembarking passengers over = 32]  

[Plainsfox]

Dressed as warmly as he could possibly be, more warmly than he ever thought he needed to be (He was wearing his kimono beneath his sturdy clothing), Himura Naohiko peered out from under his straw hat and mentally groaned. Kaichiyo-hime had chosen to make a grand entrance to Kyuden Doji. Where does Chiyo-chan get that energy? thought Naohiko as he hustled down the ramp. His eyes widened as his right foot slid forward when it touched the compacted snow covering the ground. It was only a moment though, and he corrected his balance nearly instantly. "Court may not wait for us, Himura-hime, but if we move forward too recklessly, we may as well have stayed home."  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Gendo sighed inwardly as he walked, til he had caught up with the energetic female that he was tasked with keeping safe. With a slow, measured voice, he spoke. "Calm down and be a bit more regal, or would you rather the courts use your antics are reason to dismiss us as less worthy than we are?" His voice grew soft, with a slight playful hint to it as he spoke so only the lady could hear "Hime-sama."  

[PupSage]

A gruff man clad in ragged clothing and sporting the beginings of a bushy, black, beard spoke up. "Slow yourself Kaichiyo-sama. I don't want to lug your body back to Megumi Tempi, and its to early to perform your last rites." The man was young, but age had already grabbed hold of him. His throat bore a scar across it that no hair grew. His face had minor scars all over it, as did his arms, though they were currently coverered in woolen shirt over his haori. "Besides, the cold is harsh on my lungs. Lets take it easy."  

[Rain Yupa]

(Quick at-work post...)

In addition to disembarking, what are your immediate plans? Do you bee-line to the castle? Check out parts of the city? Look for anybody? Split up and look for clues? Some other option? There are no incorrect answers.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

The excitable little princess bristled with part indignation, but mostly confusion. She had pulled around, secured, and swung from rigging ropes all her life; she wasn't about to hurt herself now, just because it was a Doji ship and not of Minato's expert design. "Pah. What manner of kansen haunted your bedrolls this morning?"

"We're already nobodies." she continued, countering their reprimands with a lecture of her own, "We'll get no attention but what we earn ourselves."

And just to accent her point she pulled out her biwa from its protective bag at her side and strummed out an accent to her perfect voice, loudly singing one of Tsutsu's jaunty tunes to liven the mood. A tale of drinks and magical fish. Though her focus went more into her performance, she was indeed making a b-line to the castle. Better to check in with their hosts first and then explore the town later. Plenty of time to wander in the span of a month.


[Perform: Song/Awareness 5k4 w/ 2 raises to entice audience members to sing along = 32 - 10 = 22]  

[Plainsfox]

Naohiko bit back the urge to say something biting. He would admit that Kaichiyo's choice to sing all the damn Yoritomo shanties she knew at the earliest depths of the Hour of the Tiger may have something to do with his mood. Naohiko hadn't counted on the sheer reservoir of excitement that dwelt within his childhood friend. "Wait up, Himura-hime! We'll go together! You'll look better if you have something of a retinue at your back!" When Naohiko caught up to his friend, he tried to pick up her song as best he could and sing along with it.

OOC:
Reflexes/Athletics (To keep up with Chiyo-chan) 3k3 Non explody ><
Results: 21  

[PupSage]

Shi looked up, bleak eyed as the party began to move forward, attempting to keep pace with them he began to jog a bit, falling steadily more behind. He cursed beneath his breath before giving up on running.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

He just shook his head and followed Kaichiyo, sighing. She'd always been like that and he knew of nothing that could stop her short of her mother.  

[Rain Yupa]

The quartet would disembark the Crane vessel, though definitely getting a few odd looks - maybe it was the strange kimonos, or the odd mood despite the winter, or all the acrobatics. But regardless, you would be on your way through the city, heading straight for the castle.

Kaichiyo, your song isn't nearly as contagious to the general public as you might have hoped it would have been. They seem as bleak as the winter. That's peasantry for ya!

Naohiko, something catches your eye as you march. At one market shop, there was a person wearing an odd noh mask who seemed to turn his/her attention to all of you. Or maybe just one, it was hard to see who they may have been looking at, what with the mask and all. They watched you until all of you were out of sight. The person with the mask definitely bore an imperial emblem on his clothes. But with him seemed to be a budoka, by your guess. A young woman, not much older than you, with really short cropped black hair and bronzed skin. She was well-muscled, as she was dressed more for late spring than mid-winter. She wasn't just a pretty face, but she just seemed to exude attractiveness, despite not being a samurai.

But more than that, she seems familiar, somehow. Perhaps a Raw Intelligence roll will jog your memory.

Kaichiyo's pace keeps you from her proximity, however, so even if you pass the roll, you'll have to worry about her later.

As you near the front gates, one of the guards nods to another, who jogs inside. By the time you arrive, a young man is escorted out, in Crane garb. His bleached white hair is tied back into a ponytail, and he has an effeminate yet boyish look about him.

"Greetings, samurai from the colonies," he says in a squeaky voice as he bows politely, each hand nestled into the opposite sleeve. "You must be the fabled Kraken, I take it? My name is Asahina Masanori, and I humbly welcome you to Kyuden Doji."  

[Plainsfox]

Naohiko kept to a subservient position to Chiyo-chan's right as she lead them all to Kyuden Doji. It was a bit of presumption, but Naohiko figured he was probably Kaichiyo's right hand guy growing up together. As he waited for his future Daimyo to present her traveling companions, the young samurai's mind drifted back to the budoka they spotted on the way here. She was attractive, certainly, but not generally the type of girl he chased after. Still, he felt like he knew her somehow.

OOC: Raw Intelligence Roll: 13  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Gendo bowed his head respectfully to the man... boy... thing before him. He could never understand how any man wanted to be 'pretty' and such. Still, he'd never say that out loud. In fact, he rarely said most thing out loud, if anyone cared to think on it. Such as now, when he was silent to let Kaichiyo do the speaking here.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

Well, something was contagious, one way or the other. Unfortunately in this case it was the dreary nature of literally everyone around her. She finished all of one song before the oppressive weight finally started to fall, unable to entice anyone to brighten up, much less join in, and put her biwa away solemnly for the rest of the trip.

Not one to let the mood stay sour so easily, she brightened right back up when they arrived at the front gate. She gives a confident wink to one of the guards before returning the hapless escort's polite bow, carefully observing his features and the insignia on his clothing to identify him, or at least his place in the clan. "A pleasure, Asahina-san. Your lord honors us greatly with such generous hospitality. I am Himura Kaichiyo, and these are my companions Himura Naohiko, Himura Gendo, and Shi, of the Brotherhood."

With each she gestured to the respective Kraken, ending with both arms held out invitingly, "Is there aught you would require of us before we settle in to our quarters?"


[Lore: Heraldry/Intelligence 4k3 = 26]